SE: Cats for Cans Continues to Help Community; Set for Saturday vs. Oklahoma State
Oct 09, 2018 | Evans Student-Athlete Success Program
By Corbin McGuire
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Maribeth Kieffer does not have to look far to be reminded of the impact K-State's student-athletes and their fans have on the Manhattan community. The executive director for the Flint Hills Breadbasket, Kieffer can see it on one of her walls: $12,589.
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That specific number represents the funds raised from a recent year's Cats for Cans food drive, an annual K-State Student-Athlete Committee (SAAC) initiative to help fight hunger in the local community. Typically, Kieffer said the monetary total falls between $10,000 to $12,000, and it does not include the thousands of pounds of food also donated through the drive.Â
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"It makes a tremendous amount of difference," she said of the Cats for Cans drive, in its 23rd year of existence. "It's unbelievable."
This year's Cats for Cans drive takes place on Saturday when K-State hosts Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. The goal is to collect $12,000 and 5,000 pounds worth of food, all of which goes directly to the Breadbasket.Â
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"It's an opportunity to help out the community. As student-athletes, so much of the attention is focused on us. I think we need to focus more on the community and give back to them," redshirt freshman golfer Brian Choe said. "It's just an easy way to give back to people and to people that actually need the help."
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"I feel like this community is really strongly behind all the athletic programs," added Morgan Coffman, senior in track and field. "So being able to try to raise money for the community and get to know the community, it's a great cause, a great event."
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K-State student-athletes, wearing lavender T-shirts, will roam through the parking lots two hours before kickoff on Saturday to begin collecting donations. This, Coffman said, is her favorite part of the event.Â
"I try to push this to all my teammates because I think it's just really fun at the football games, meeting the fans," she said, in her fourth year volunteering for the event. "They ask what sport you are in, what event, where are you from. You get to know the fans, which I think is fun."
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There will also be bins to drop off food donations at all of the stadium entrances. In addition, fans can donate items throughout the week at both Dillons, Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart in Manhattan.Â
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K-State's student-athletes and staff have also become more invested in donating to the drive themselves. Boxes filled with food line locker rooms and offices across many sports and departments.Â
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"It's a really good cause, as far as helping the community, those that are in need," Coffman said. "The driving force for student-athletes? You know it's a good cause. The Breadbasket, the stats are pretty high as far as how many people in the community they help out."
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The Breadbasket, which operates without any federal, state or local tax dollars, assists in providing meals for around 20,000 individuals throughout Manhattan and the surrounding area each year. The Cats for Cans drive, Kieffer said, goes a long way in making this possible.
Â
The food collected speaks for itself. The cash, she added, is equally important. Those monetary donations help keep the Breadbasket running, funding operational costs and perishable food items like milk and eggs that cannot be donated but are still needed.Â
Â
"Do you know what that would do to my budget if everybody that went to the game gave one dollar? It would be unbelievable," Kieffer said. "We're very thankful. I'd like to thank everyone for even considering donating."
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Maribeth Kieffer does not have to look far to be reminded of the impact K-State's student-athletes and their fans have on the Manhattan community. The executive director for the Flint Hills Breadbasket, Kieffer can see it on one of her walls: $12,589.
Â
That specific number represents the funds raised from a recent year's Cats for Cans food drive, an annual K-State Student-Athlete Committee (SAAC) initiative to help fight hunger in the local community. Typically, Kieffer said the monetary total falls between $10,000 to $12,000, and it does not include the thousands of pounds of food also donated through the drive.Â
Â
"It makes a tremendous amount of difference," she said of the Cats for Cans drive, in its 23rd year of existence. "It's unbelievable."
ÂA big thank you to Wildcat nation for your donations and generosity towards another great Cats For Cans Food Drive! pic.twitter.com/dYdJopIHly
— K-State SAAC (@kstatesaac) October 22, 2017
This year's Cats for Cans drive takes place on Saturday when K-State hosts Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. The goal is to collect $12,000 and 5,000 pounds worth of food, all of which goes directly to the Breadbasket.Â
Â
"It's an opportunity to help out the community. As student-athletes, so much of the attention is focused on us. I think we need to focus more on the community and give back to them," redshirt freshman golfer Brian Choe said. "It's just an easy way to give back to people and to people that actually need the help."
Â
"I feel like this community is really strongly behind all the athletic programs," added Morgan Coffman, senior in track and field. "So being able to try to raise money for the community and get to know the community, it's a great cause, a great event."
Â
K-State student-athletes, wearing lavender T-shirts, will roam through the parking lots two hours before kickoff on Saturday to begin collecting donations. This, Coffman said, is her favorite part of the event.Â
ÂStop by on your way into the game! We have student-athletes and volunteers collecting at all of the gates! #ShareWhatYouCan #Cats4Cans pic.twitter.com/Z5TbCsTyY7
— K-State SAAC (@kstatesaac) October 21, 2017
"I try to push this to all my teammates because I think it's just really fun at the football games, meeting the fans," she said, in her fourth year volunteering for the event. "They ask what sport you are in, what event, where are you from. You get to know the fans, which I think is fun."
Â
There will also be bins to drop off food donations at all of the stadium entrances. In addition, fans can donate items throughout the week at both Dillons, Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart in Manhattan.Â
Â
K-State's student-athletes and staff have also become more invested in donating to the drive themselves. Boxes filled with food line locker rooms and offices across many sports and departments.Â
Â
"It's a really good cause, as far as helping the community, those that are in need," Coffman said. "The driving force for student-athletes? You know it's a good cause. The Breadbasket, the stats are pretty high as far as how many people in the community they help out."
Â
The Breadbasket, which operates without any federal, state or local tax dollars, assists in providing meals for around 20,000 individuals throughout Manhattan and the surrounding area each year. The Cats for Cans drive, Kieffer said, goes a long way in making this possible.
Â
The food collected speaks for itself. The cash, she added, is equally important. Those monetary donations help keep the Breadbasket running, funding operational costs and perishable food items like milk and eggs that cannot be donated but are still needed.Â
Â
"Do you know what that would do to my budget if everybody that went to the game gave one dollar? It would be unbelievable," Kieffer said. "We're very thankful. I'd like to thank everyone for even considering donating."
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